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Freightliner FS-65Years to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 33 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls on record for the Freightliner FS-65.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints33Top: Fuel system, dieselSafety recalls111996–2006 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Freightliner FS-65 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the FS-65 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'05'06
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2006Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2005Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2002Not rated–/1005 complaints · 3 recalls2001Not rated–/10012 complaints · 4 recalls2000Not rated–/10012 complaints · 6 recalls1999Not rated–/1002 complaints · 7 recalls1998Not rated–/1001 complaint · 4 recalls1997Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1996Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Freightliner FS-65 problems

All model years combined: 33 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, diesel210
Structure60
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Electrical system31
Fuel system, other10
Engine and engine cooling11
Seats10
11 recalls

Freightliner FS-65 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Steering: linkages07V-394 · 2005–2006 · Aug 30, 2007 · 4,850 vehicles–Fuel system, diesel05V-205 · 1998–2002 · Apr 27, 2005 · 16,000 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings04V-343 · 1996–2002 · Jul 12, 2004 · 3,200 vehicles–Vehicle speed control02V-248 · 1996–1998 · Sep 16, 2002 · 818 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings02V-084 · 1999–2002 · Apr 2, 2002 · 16,000 vehicles–Electrical system: wiring01V-215 · 2000–2001 · Jun 26, 2001 · 8,753 vehicles–Linkages: tie rod assembly01V-044 · 1999 · Feb 21, 2001 · 16,000 vehicles–Service brakes, air: antilock00V-279 · 1999 · Sep 22, 2000 · 13,008 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission00V-229 · 2000 · Aug 17, 2000 · 594 vehicles–Service brakes, air: antilock00V-232 · 1997–2000 · Aug 7, 2000 · 35,405 vehicles–Service brakes, air99V-055 · 1999 · Mar 29, 1999 · 285 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the FS-65

  1. SCHOOL BUS THROTTLE CABLEPE02030 · 1997 · closed Sep 25, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-248
  2. FRONT AIR BRAKE HOSE LEAKAGEPE02024 · 1999–2002 · closed Mar 25, 2002
    Led to recall 02V-084